Floods in Assam have now been a repeating ritual. Every year, we come across the same scene of devastation. It’s so disheartening to count the death tolls and the innocent victims in lakhs.
Floods in Assam are a major national issue. This inundation has destroyed Assam’s economy and valuable resources. From agricultural lands to human settlements, the level of water has drowned everything. The death of several animals in Kaziranga National Park has been a constant issue during floods.
Assam being a state with one of the largest rivers is obvious to face the problem of flood. But why don’t we come up with a strong solution to combat this problem? How long we will bear the losses of our people and the damage to our resources? Recommendations from renowned environmentalists and engineers must be taken to understand the dynamics of the Brahmaputra. Human settlement should be totally restricted near the banks and flood plains of the river.
Dams, reservoirs and geo bags must be constructed near the flood prone districts where water easily overflows. Strong construction materials should be used for these dams and embankments. Also, the condition of drainage system should be improved and plastic waste that blocks the drains should be cleared off.
The situation can also be studied through satellite images and mapping of the the entire flood prone area. Even the excess flood water can be treated and stored if proper technology is addressed. Assam disaster management authorities and all eminent professionals should collectively put forward their ideas to effectively reduce floods in the coming years. Some of the measures that came over time have hardly been implemented or have failed due to improper analysis. The recent plan of dredging the river also is in debate as instead combating flood, dredging will widen the course of the river.
There has been enough contradiction and political debate over the river and no solution has arrived. Hence, it is a request to the government to invest and develop strong flood prevention measures to end suffering.